Roy Keane, Gary Lineker and Graeme Souness should be enlisted to join VAR operators - expert
Gary Lineker and Roy Keane are about former managers, players and current pundits who should be brought in to assist VAR in their decision-making.
That is the opinion of experienced former Tottenham, Aston Villa and Everton scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
Decisions made in both Arsenal's 2-0 win over Sunderland and Manchester City's 1-0 win over Manchester United in the derby have once again prompted huge debate over the competency of Premier League officials.
Erling Haaland's winner for Enzo Maresca's side on Sunday should have been ruled out after Enzo Fernandez clearly interfered with play from an offside position, with VAR referee, Matt Donohue and assistant, Blake Antrobus, stood down as a result.
Sunderland's penalty was ultimately saved and did not have an effect on the final result, but officials have faced criticism for somehow missing Dan Ballard's grip and pull on Ezri Konsa's shirt.
It remains to be seen whether any material change is put into effect, but pressure certainly appears to be growing on Pro Ref.
VAR must seek help from those with 'great knowledge'
Constant changes to the rules have been made in recent years, with many of them aimed at trying to make VAR's presence in the game less noticeable.
Offsides have been automated, and the threshold for intervention has been supposedly raised.
Yet mistakes remain common and often defining, meaning the debate over VAR's presence never strays far from the game.
"Until VAR, and why the hell they haven't done it since the start, there's enough managers and coaches out of work who could be put into that team looking at VAR and give you a true reflection," King told Football Insider.
"Stick a manager, an old manager or a coach in with those two people that are sitting at the television screens to give his immediate reaction. I can assure you, I can make a decision straight away just watching the television.
"You don't have to play 25 run-throughs and say that this foot has gone over the heat bar to allow him to be onside."
He added: "An old manager or an old coach or player will put a completely different view on it because he's played. He's been in that position. The referee's never been there. I think it's important.
"I think that for me has always been, since day one, I've always advocated for a manager [to help VAR] and there's enough of them out of work. You know, Tony Pulis, Sam Allardyce, John Gregory, all these people.
"What an asset that'd be to VAR. Great knowledge. All these pundits, [Graeme] Souness, [Roy] Keane, all these. [Gary] Lineker, if they were used in that capacity, I mean, I'm sure there'd be a lot of different decisions."
Howard Webb plan revisited
It was reported in 2023 that Howard Webb, head of Pro Ref, was planning on adopting a similar plan to what has been suggested.
The former Premier League referee was reportedly ready to fast track 12 former players to assist with VAR.
Yet no evidence of this having become reality has ever emerged, with VAR remaining the error-laden system it has always been accused of being.
But with pressure increasing, it may now be time for Webb to finally take some action.